Serena Williams Tops the 4th Annual Sports Illustrated Fashionable 50

Is it just us, or is Serena Williams everywhere as of late? Just last week, we were in awe of the tennis phenom in all her unretouched golden glory on the cover of Harperโ€™s Bazaar, and now sheโ€™s once again killing the game, covering Sports Illustratedโ€™s fourth annual Fashionable 50 issue. The tagline for the…

Is it just us, or is Serena Williams everywhere as of late? Just last week, we were in awe of the tennis phenom in all her unretouched golden glory on the cover of Harperโ€™s Bazaar, and now sheโ€™s once again killing the game, covering Sports Illustratedโ€™s fourth annual Fashionable 50 issue. The tagline for the cover? โ€œThe Serena Code.โ€

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Once again showing off her famously toned legs, Williams stuns in a sleek white bodysuit, topped by a matching tailcoat by Thom Browne. Inside the issue, the mogulโ€”who launched her eponymous line last yearโ€”confirms that while tennis may be her main claim to fame, itโ€™s far from her only passion.

โ€œFor me, itโ€™s important to have something beyond tennis, because Iโ€™ve always planned on it,โ€ Williams, looking lovely, tells the SI cameras as she reflects on her time spent in fashion school. โ€œ[A]t some point, Iโ€™m going to have to stop [playing tennis], and Iโ€™ve always wanted to have a backup plan, in case tennis didnโ€™t work out.โ€

As if.

โ€œMy whole career has been really about tennis and fashion,โ€ Williams also tells Sports Illustrated, which partners with the CFDA to compile the annual list. โ€œI always try to make a statement when I walk out on the courtโ€”to be bold and to be unique and to kind of transcend. I always try to send the message of just being confident and being fierce.โ€

Who else made the list? Serenaโ€™s sister, fellow tennis star and fashion designer Venus Williams, along with a male-dominated list of fellow black fashion lovers that includes: 2018 cover co-star P.K. Subban, Odell Beckham Jr., Russell Westbrook, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Dwyane Wade, Kelly Oubre Jr., James Harden, Lewis Hamilton, LeBron James, Iman Shumpert, Von Miller, Cam Newton, Antonio Brown, Deandre Jordan, Nick Young, Jamal Adams, Deandre Hopkins, Neymar Jr., Serge Ibaka, P.J. Tucker, Chris Paul, Ben Simmons, Kyrie Irving, Dennis Schrรถder, Jimmy Butler, Mike Conley, Malcolm Jenkins, Tyrod Taylor, Russell Wilson, Evander Kane, Jarvis Landry, Rudy Gay, Kalani Brown, and Dina Asher-Smith.

And many of the listโ€™s stars, including Williams, were on hand to celebrate Thursday night in Los Angeles. Sports Illustrated graciously granted us a glimpse on Instagram...and it sounds like Ben Simmons has some ideas for next yearโ€™s list!

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